(13.02.2023, Frankfurt am Main) The Hessian state government and the VDE today opened Germany's first AI Quality & Testing Hub (AIQ) at the House of Logistics & Mobility (HOLM) in Frankfurt. In the Hub, companies have the opportunity to prove and improve quality properties of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This is to help ensure that users gain confidence in AI applications and that novel technologies are in line with the European value system.
"Artificial intelligence is the key technology of the 21st century. With the Hub based in Frankfurt, there is a unique joint venture between a state government and one of the largest technology organizations in Europe. We are both convinced of the great potential of our location in Hesse. We are developing a European lighthouse to be able to use AI applications. This makes us one of the first real laboratories in Europe in the field of AI quality. We conduct responsible excellence research and at the same time enable the transfer into practice. With this project, we are taking up the upcoming AI regulation currently being discussed in Brussels and creating the best conditions for putting the upcoming AI regulation for Europe into practice. We are developing 'AI made in Hessen' into a globally recognized trademark," said Hessen's Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus.
Pioneer work to be done
VDE, with its neutral network of experts, is already involved in numerous artificial intelligence initiatives around the world. For VDE President Alf Henryk Wulf, the cooperation with the state of Hesse is therefore a logical consequence to further advance the topic of Artificial Intelligence: "In the future, AI will influence almost all areas of our lives and will be used across all industries. There is a lot of pioneer work to be done here to ensure that the new technology also develops according to our ideas. As VDE, we want to tackle this design task with determination together with our partners."
Dr. Michael Rammensee, Managing Director of the AI Quality & Testing Hub: "The AI Quality & Testing Hub GmbH takes on the task of individual consulting for companies and organizations on the topic of "AI quality". This will be complemented by the development and offering of training and education courses. It is also planned to create and license quality-assured test and training data sets for AI, which can be used to check the results of algorithms in test runs. Also projected is the development and leasing of simulation environments to test AI systems (e.g., for autonomous vehicles). To be able to formulate standards for the use of AI more quickly, the AI Quality & Testing Hub is supporting this with its AI experts together with the VDE and the state of Hesse."
Dr. Beate Mand, Deputy Chair of the Board of VDE: "For 130 years, VDE has stood for protection and safety linked to innovation, which is our DNA literally. Back then, it was the new technology of electricity that led to the founding of VDE. Today, it is AI, which requires benchmarks, among other things. With our expertise in benchmarking, testing and certification, we stand by the hub."
